Ian McKellen

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ian-mckellen

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Ian McKellen born?May 25, 1939
2. Where was Ian McKellen born?Burnley, Lancashire, England
3. What is the knighted?1991 by Queen Elizabeth II
4. What is the key theatrical awards?Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (Amadeus), six Olivier Awards
5. What wizard did Ian McKellen play in movies?He played Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies.
6. Why did Ian McKellen become a knight?He was knighted for his acting and his work helping people, especially in LGBTQ+ rights.

Thespian: An actor or actress, often used to refer to someone with a distinguished career in theatre.
Repertory Theatre: A theatre company that presents a varied program of plays, often performing different plays on different nights.
LGBTQ+ Advocacy: The active support and promotion of equal rights, acceptance, and fair treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.
Cultural Icon: A person or thing that is widely recognized and admired for representing particular aspects of a culture.